“Paul will be greatly missed. He was truly committed to the people of Seattle, working to improve the city both as an elected official and private citizen. He was dedicated to the lives of the people of this city, evidenced by his countless contributions and the legacy he built here,” said Murray.

Schell helped develop Seattle’s 37 neighborhood plans. He also worked to bring much-needed services to Seattle’s immigrant and homeless communities.

“Paul fell in love with Seattle when he moved here, as a lot of us then younger people did, then as a civic leader and a mayor he went about making this city even a better place. In a relatively brief time in office, he made a huge and lasting difference in our city,” said former mayor and friend Charlie Royer.

Schell is survived by Pam, his wife of 51 years, and daughter Jamie.

The mayor’s office said details about a memorial service will be released in the next few days.